Another ~1960 computer kit - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

19 Dec 1998

Hi Tony and all,
At 03:09 PM 12/19/98 +0000, you wrote:

...
 One of the most depressing things I've done
recently was buy a number of 
books (some second-hand, some new) with titles like 'The boy mechanic', 
'Every boy his own mechanic', etc. 

OK, so the titles are sexist, and I do believe that's wrong, and that 
there's no reason why girls shouldn't also be interested in this sort of 
thing. 

But worse still is the fact that back in the early years of this century, 
it appears that boys - say about 12-15 years old - were expected to try 
woodwork, metalwork, using a lathe, wiring electric lights, bells, 
telephones, etc, making induction coils, etc, etc, etc. Things that I bet 
few boys ever try today. And yet, today, it could be made a little easier 
for them.
 I have some of these books, and it always amazes me what "boys" were
doing
back then - all the things you mentioned and more. One day I hope to start
aluminum casting. Alfred Morgan was writing books like this at least until
up to the 50's. Just today I bought a 1927 book on radio construction and
repair. Last week I listened to a tube/valve regenerative SW receiver.

OFF topic:
Max wrote:
There's little need to make coils these days, and wiring electric lights
isn't very fun when one can play around with things millions of times more
complex.

Hey! I've wound several experimental coils this year. Did you wonder _how_ a
transformer works? I know the equations to design one, but am asking
something more fundamental. The secondary winding of a transformer has
voltage induced in it, but what couples the energy to it from the primary
winding's magnetic field?
(Hint: The magnetic field can be zero at the secondary)

As for wiring lights, Christmas tree light strings here are now cheap series
strings although the bulbs may have some wire turns wrapped around the leads
to prevent a open circuit if a bulb burns out. This often don't work, so the
entire string is usually thrown away, like many modern ASIC type computer boards

END off topic
-Dave